Art of distilling hydrocarbon oils



July 10, 1928.

R. E. WILSON ART OF DISTILLING HYDROCARBON oms Filed Dec. 22, 1924 .f. 7722 120567711 [fix/:7

Patented Jul 10 19 8; v E

A 1,676,610 OFFICE.

ROBERT E. WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGITOR 1'0 STANDARD OIL COMPANY,

- OF WHITING, IND ANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

.' ART OF DISTILLING mznnoona'aon onus.

is diagrammatically shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, the numeral 1 indicates a furnace set ting in which is provided a suitable coil 2 heated by any suitable means. From the coil 2 an enlarged conduit 3 leads to a separating chamber or drum 4, from which vapors pass through a vapor line 5 to the .condenser ,6. Condensate flows from the condenser through line 7 to the receiver 8,

the vapor space of which may be connected by the line 9 to the vacuum pump 10. From the bottom of drum 4 a discharge line 11, in-which is provideda trap 12, leads to the interior of the column 13, which may" be provided, for example, with stripping plates 14 some of which may suitably be of the bubble plate type. A steam line 15 leads into the tower 13 and discharges through the perforated pipe 16 into the lower portion thereof.- A' discharge line 17 is provided for the removal of heavy oils from the tower or column 13. 'From the top of the column a vapor line 18 leads to a suitable point at or'near the end of coil 2 before it enters the conduit 3. i

In carrying out the invention, the oil to be distilled is forced, by any suitable supply means, such as a pump (not 'shown), into and through the pipe coil 2, in which it is heated to the desired temperature; I As pointed out hereinafter, steam and, in geperal some hydrocarbon vapors, are forced into the heated oil passing through the coil' 2 from thepipe" 18. The heated oil "and steam pass out of the coil 2 into the enlarged conduit 3, which maybe of-any desired length, andinto the vaporizing drum '4. The enlargementof theconduitv 3 permits a substantial attainment of equilibrium between the heated oil and the vapors at substantially theminimum pressure prevailing in the system. In the chamber 4 the separation of the 'vapor and liquid takes place, the vapors passing ofi through the pipe 5 through the-condenser 6, the resulting condensate flowing into the receiver 8. From the chamber 4, the 'unvaporized oil passes through the traplped line 11 into the tower or column 13. t descends the column 13 in countercurren't to the rising steam enter- 'ing through the pipe 15 and the perforated distributing pipe 16. The steam completes the removal of the light fractions from the oil, leaving as a residue the desired viscous lubricating fractions, which are substantially cooled by their contact with the steam. The steam and the vapors carried thereby pass out through the pipe 18 and are admitted into the stream of heated oil before it enters the enlarged conduit, and where the, pressure is relatively low, for example, near the exit end of coil 2, and there aid materially the removal of the lighter fractions of the oil. The trap 12 in the line 11 prevents vapors from the column 13 being forced back into the vaporizing chamber 4. If desired,,the operation may be conducted under vacuum, the vacuum pump 10 being connected by the line 9 to the vapor space of the receiver 8 for this purpose. The process is particularly adapted to the production of residues, such asviscous lubricatii g oils, from reduced crude oils or from disti lates. Thus, the. feed stock may suitably be a paraifin distillate from mid-continent crude of 30 Baum, with a viscosity of 60 sec. Saybolt at 100 F. and a. flash point of about'150 to 175 F; It is brou ht in the coil 2 to a temperature of 650 to 6, 5 F., the steam and vapors from the tower 13 beingintroducedinto the stream of 011 before it enters the enlarged conduit 3, where the pressure is comparatively lower. The residue from the separating chamber 4; reaches the tower 13 at a temperature substantially the same as that atwhich the oil leaves the heating coil. In the tower steam is injected in an amount to supply about 30% condensed water on distillate condensed in'the'condenser 8. A product is formed of about 23-24 Baum, ,with a viscosity of 320-325 sec. Saybolt at F. and a; flash tions of operation maybe varied as desired, according to the character of feed stock, the product desired, and the pressure under point of about 415 to. 420 F. The con'di-J which the operation is carried out. Thus,"

with reduced pressure, materially lower temperature may be used.

p I claim:

The process may likewise be used in the distillation of other oils; for example in the removal of lighter fractions from crude and reduced crude oils.

1. The method. of distilling hydrocarbon oils which comprises pa$ingsuch oil in a confined stream through a heating zone,

' pors wherein separation of vaporized products discharging the stream of oil into an em larged chamber, wherein separation of vaporized products takes lace, removing unvaporized oil from said chamber and immediately subjecting said unvaporized oil to direct contact with Steam, thereby complet-.

ing the removal of the lighten constituents thereof, forcing the steam and vapors carried thereby into the stream of heated oil at an intermediate point in the heating zone,

' andmaintaining-a sufiicient head ,of liquid in the discharge line from the vaporizing chamber. to prevent return of steam and vatherethrough.

2. The method of distillin hydrocarbon oils comprising passing a con ned stream of such oil through a heated zone, passing the oil together 'with added steam through an elongated enlarged conduit into a chamber takes place, said steam being forced into the stream of' oil in the heated zone, and separately removing vaporized products and unvaporized liquid from said chamber. 1 i

3. The method of distillin hydrocarbon oils comprising passinga con ned stream of such oil through a heating zone, passing the oil together with steam through anelongated enlarged conduit into a chamber wherein separation 'of vaporized products takes place, said steam being forced into the stream of oil in the heated zone, removing vaporized products and unvaporized oil separated from said chamber, and maintaining reduced pressure thereon.

' conduit discharges, a scrubbing tower at a,

lower level than said dru 'fduit from the drum beingprevent back flow o vaporsthere- 4. In apparatus for the distillation of oil, a heated conduit, a drum'into 'which said 5. In apparatus forthe distillation of'oil,

a heating conduit, means for applying heat thereto, means.for supplying steam to-said heating conduit at an intermediate point thereof, an enlarged separating drum, a'conduit larger than the heating conduit and connecting the outlet of the latter with the drum, and means for removing va orized and unvaporized products from thevaporized and unvaporized strippe directly to the stream of oil in said heating with 6. The method of distilling hydrocarbon:

oils, which comprises, passin a confined stream of oil through a eate zone nto an enlarged chamber wherein separation into place removing unvaporized chamber, subjecting it to-the stripping action of steam and supplying said steam and the vapors stripped from said unvaporized portions'directly to the stream of oil in the heated zone.

porti stakes oil/2am said 7. The method of distillinghydrocarbon oils, which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heated zone, passing the oil together with steam through an elongated enlarged conduit into an enlarged chamber wherein separation into vaporized and -unvaporized portions takes place, removing unvaporized oil from said chamber, subjecting it to the stripping action of steam, and su plying said steam and the vapors from said unvaporized portions zone.

8. oils, which comprises passing a confined The method of distilling hydrocarbon stream of oil through a 'heatedzone into an enlarged chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unvaporized portions takes place, removing-unvaporized oil to a zone of higher pressure than the pressure in saidv chamber, subjecting said unvaporized oil in said zone to the stripping action or steam and supplying said steam and the stripped vapors to the stream of oil in the heated zone.

9. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a'heated zone, passing the oil together with steam through an enlarged conduit into an enlarged chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unva- I porized. portions takes place, removing unva- .porized .oilto a zone of higher pressure .than'the pressure in said chamber, subjecting said unvaporized oil in said zone to the stripping action of steam and supplying said steam and tliestrip ing vapors to the stream of oil'in' theheate zone.

10. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which comprises passing. a confined stream of oil through aheatejd zone, passing chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unvaporizedpor'tions' takes place, re-' the oil to other with steam through an elongated e arged conduit into an enlarged moving thennvaporized oilflto-"a stripping I tower, maintaining a liquid headbetween v said. chamber and tower to maintain in the latter*{a-'-;presure greater than that in the separating chamber, subjecting the unvapor- 'iz ed-oil to the stripping action 'of steam and supplying said steam and stripped vapors to the stream of oil in the heated'zone.

- 11'. In apparatus for the vdistillation of oil,-

'5 than the heating conduitv and connecting the outlet of the latter with the drum and means for removing vaporized and unvaporized products from the drum.

12. In apparatus for thedistillation of oil,

10 a heating conduit, means for applying heat thereto, an enlarged separatm drum connected therewith, a stripping c0 umn, means for supplying steam thereto, means for conveying steam and vapors from the upper part of the stripping column to the heating conduit, and'means for conve ing 'unvaporized oil from the separating c amberto the upper part of the stripping column, comprlsin'g a descending pipe of substantial length and rovided with a liquid trap, whereby a co umnof liquid is adapted to be retained therein so as to maintain sufiicient pressure in the stripping tower to force the steam and vapors into the heated conduit.

ROBERT E. WILSON. 

